I went to Dunnville yesterday for a trackday with Raven Performance (a BMW shop). I spent the whole day running against E36M3's, caged E46 M3's, and an S2000.

The 8 with the new MS springs shocks, and AP bars, with T1R's had them all covered. I couldn't run with the E46's on the straights but in braking and corners (especially the long right hand sweeper onto the straight) I had them all covered. I was the fastest ride at the end of the day.

But my RB exhaust sent the bumper on fire, and I ate through an entire new set of brake pads. Another downside was I used 48L of gas in 140km of on track time.

But the car was absolutely amazing. Superb balance, very neutral, and a ot less high speed weaving under hard braking.

Juergen

 

hey, I hit up Shannonville yesterday, beautiful weather. I have similar mods to you but less, I just tein springs, rb sways, brakes fluid/pads/rotors and Yokohamas A032R's, oh and the best mod ever for a track day, negative camber alignment.

Beat on almost ever single car, there were some pretty wild ones there, R32 GTR, EVO from the states, Stis. The drivers were modest at best though. There was an E46 M3 there, pretty much the only guy faster than me but not by much, I don't think there was any way I could've caught him with the 8, he corners with about the same agility as my 8 and braked about the same as me (I was braking really late already), that guy was just a decent driver, with a good driver those m3's can put at least a couple seconds on us per lap...

How did your bumper burn up? was it from the downshifting backfires? hope everything is well

 

I am not sure what happened really. I think the exhaust was moving under hard braking and was hitting the fascia. Which melted all the plastic and set a bit on fire on the exhaust.

 

That's great guys, we should start a thread on RX8 track day experiences for the summer on our tracks. I got my bike track days lined up but hope to substitute one date to take the 8.

spd frk, you must have done like 50 laps, that's major tire / pads / fluid expense, but hey, that's an enthusiasts life! Other than the flamming bumper, no other issues like cels or that fuel starvation issue?

 

What kind of pads were you guys running for your track days.

 

There's not enough of us that go to the track regularly, more 8 owners should bring them out since it's a pretty good handling/braking car.

I used project Mu last year, weren't so good, then this year I switched to EBC reds, so far so good. It's all in the fluid though, ATE super blue for me has handled the abuse, no brake fade whatsoever

 

I am running stock Mazda pads, with Motul 5.1 race fluid. The car brakes quite well. There is enough pad strength to get to the ABS threshold, but they fade a bit, and wear quite fast.

I had a CEL because the rear O2 sensor in my car is pooched. I had fuel starvation when I got down to around 1/4 tank, so I had to fill the car back up. I used about 1L of oil also. I got about 3.5 hours of track time total.

I also used 48L in 150km of driving (20 to track, 130 on track). I averaged 32L/100km, or 7.8MPG.

Juergen

 

I find it interesting that there are so many of us at the track, but when I go, I seem to be the only 8 at the track......need friends....

 

Yea, we really should round up a few of us and get to the track together. There is usually 2 other 8's at the solosprints events that I went to last yea. When's the next track day for you guys? I will come out so you won't be the lone 8 at the track, next day for me is the 19th of may at dunnville if you're interested send me a PM and I'll send you the details.

 

Next for me is at Dunnville again on Indy weekend in July (17th I think)

 

Going through a set of 1/2 a set of pads, 1/4 of the rotors, and 20% of the tires, not to mention 150L of 94 (shannonville full day), and then the expense of the track rental itself, I'm really curious what you think the total cost of a track day is?

Pad Wear - $100
Rotor Wear - $100
Tire Wear - $200
Track Rental - $150
Gas - $100-$150
Brake Fluid, Oil, - $20

I bet you won't get out of a track day without it eventually costing $500, and depending if the track has lots of braking zones, upwards of $1000.

Racing Schools all of a sudden don't seem so expensive.

I guess a crack addiction can cost a bit as well.

Anyone want to guestimate their expenses?

 

The gas part is the biggest bitch but lapping and going to events is actually not that bad. Shannonville was 3 hours of lapping, gas was about $110. The worst I've done is a full day at toronto motorsports park and I blew two full tanks (stupid 140 kms for both tanks) on the track but even then gas only cost ~$160
My front pads lasted me the entire season last year like 6 or 7 lapping days and 3 solo events, plus used them during the winter too, just threw them out, they still had some meat on them. New pads cost $100 bucks, rotors I changed over to Project Mu 2 piece rotors just for track duty, never had to machine them cause a new set of pads and a couple of laps and the rotors are completely smoothed out. Tires last me an entire season and a half keeping in mind R compounds are good til the last drop. Track fees range from $60 to $400 depending on what floats your boat, I rarely ever go to mosport so it's cheaper. Fluid I do about every 3 lapping days, $20 fluid and a case of beer with my buddy and it's done, haha
So all in all, I don't even think I would count the pads and rotors cause I use those on the street, so my calculations

gas ~$120
Track fee $65 to $400
Tires $1000/15 times $66
Brake Fluid $6

I would assume my average is a little over 200 bucks, so all in all not that bad. To me going to the track is too much fun, it is well worth it for me.

 

Anyone tried the Mazdaspeed pads? Mine are going to be done after the next tack day and I am contemplating getting the MS pads.

 

Thanks for the response - Where did you get your pads and rotors?
How much for the two piece?
How do you get the wheels and tires to the track?

My front rotors are down to 22.8mm, so I'll have to change them soon.
Pads are the new anti-sequel OEM, but it might be a good idea to pick up some track only pads that won't leave deposits on the rotor.

Only $10 - $15 for Pads/event, and then what for replacement Rotors about $30/event?

The greatest thing about a track day is it is a relatively safe way to drive the car the way the engineers had intended - after all - it's not a minivan.

Too many variables on streets that come into play that can wreck your whole day:
Unknown Road Surface - dust, spills, debris
On-Coming traffic
Frost Heaves, dips, broken pavement
Police Radar, Laser,
Driveways
Cyclists, Pedestrians, etc.

Let's face it - with the speed limits the way they are you have to be doing anywhere from 2-3x the posted limit to get anywhere near the limits of the car.

By the time you get to those speeds - a simple oops puts you into the scenery.

 

I just got the Mazdaspeed brake pads and they are amazing. Used them at the two day BMW school at Mosport last month. Last year I used Hawk HP+ on the front and HPS on the back and I found they weren't nearly as good as the stock pads.

 

I figure my cost about $600/lapping day. The cost at Dunnville was $275, plus $50gas, plus pads/rotors/fluid etc.

Well worth it compared to being run off the road by some *** in toronto.

 

Hey Albert, are you doing solo sprints again this year? What events did you sign up for?

Wow, 275 for lapping at dunville? I'm going on the 19th of May if you guys are interested to dunville, 12 to 5 for $50 dollars